Coudekerque-Branche–Fontinettes railway


The Coudekerque-Branche–Fontinettes railway runs along the English Channel and North Sea coast of France from a junction near Gare de Coudekerque-Branche in Dunkirk to a junction near Gare des Fontinettes in Calais. It is long and AC electrified single track for much of its length, except for the first from Dunkirk which is double track electrified with 25 kV 50 Hz. Line speeds are from to.
There is a movable bridge over the Aa at Gravelines to allow navigation of the river.
, an irregular service of 3 to 5 trains run each day.

History

The line was built by Compagnie du Nord-Est and opened 10 August 1876. Operations were transferred on 5 June 1883 to Compagnie des chemins de fer du Nord.
The whole length of the line was doubled in 1915, to be resingled along much of its length in 1960. The first ten kilometres of the line from Coudekerque was electrified in 1962 and the marshalling yard at Grande-Sythe built between 1962 and 1965.
Plans to electrify the line were completed by 2015.